The eyes see what you hide

Target audience: Jewish congregation with influence of the Essenes

Hidden among the congregation, there are those who fall away.

1) Never had a relationship in the first place

2) Never fully understood the depth and beauty of the work and person of Christ Jesus and they never truly believed the saving grace and our inexplicable corruption.

Solution

1) The pulling factor should be the appreciating the grandeaur of Jesus Christ and the total adequacy of Christian salvation Vs. The local church per se. They should be inspired to come because of the recoginition of God's glory compared to the attractiveness of the church itself( being the focus) although the effort to make the church welcoming can be helpful.

The replacement of the Old with the New Covenant

1)The coming of a new High Priest of a different order (Heb :9-10, 7:11-17)

2)Greater ministry (Hebrews 7:25)

3) Truly effective sacrifice (Heb 9:13-14)

4)Transforming the hearts and minds of all who are God's people (Heb 8:10)

Source of erroneous teaching affecting the people

Essenes

Visionaries

Believed in coming of Messaihnic Kingdom

The coming of a God given prophet

Saw the corruption of current priesthood

Looking for a Messiah who would come in the form of a physical ruler/leader (King, General)

Opposed

Pharisees and the Sa(?)

Who did not encourage the teaching of Jesus, the High Priest

Christians who have a true relationship with God

1) Responsibility of Holy brethren (Heb 3:1a)

To be Holy- Set apart to service and obedience, Set apart from moral corruption

Involves:

1. Accepting feedback on our weaknesses to continue changing towards likeness of Christ

2. Consistency in the way we live our lives as followers of God, above reproach before God and man.

3. Living our life right before God (Perfect standard)

How?

Based on the Word of God. Accountability to others, accepting feedback thankfully and gratefully for people who truly love God and love His people.

2)Privilege of heavenly calling (Heb3:1b)

For whom?

1)For those who have heard God's calling through the gospel and His holy spirit and have responded in faith, trust and obedience. [True believers]

What calling?

1)Not to a specific vocation, or for a specific gift or talent.

But?

1. Relationship with God

2. What God puts me through to mould me.

Privilege?

1. Freed from sin, slave to righteousness

2. People called by God have the freedom to give everything they have to God.

3. The freedom to choose to do God's work through His enabling.

4. Guided by the bible through experiences that are against God's character and will.

5. Can adopt an attitude which reflects the gratitude to a Father who grants the privilege to be called His children.

Consider Christ

1. Apostle- One who represents God and speaks to man on God's behalf

2. High priest- One who is chosen among man to represent them regarding things before God.

Jesus being God, was the perfect apostle for who knew God better than Himself.

Jsus being the perfect man, was the perfect High priest to represent us for he knew exactly what we went through and he experienced fully what we went through yet without sin.

Implications:

1. For God has called me into a life for His glory and purpose, I must no longer live to seek my own desires but of that of His kingdom. (Matt 6:33)

2. I must be consistent in my life as i continue to be holy, understanding that it is a responsibility of which i must obey.

3. I must not be bitter about my responsibilities or be resistant to good and loving advice from people for God has called different people into my life as well to guide and lead me.

Application for the week:

1) To learn holiness as a responsibility, I will submit to Chang Xiang fully, willingly and joyfully as my leader and to the authority of MYFC. (Through this i will be obedient to my human authority as well as to abstain from moral corruption like feelings of unwillingness and selfishness- wanting to do things my own way or at my own pace)

2) To learn calling as a privilege, I will encourage and share with at least 2 MYFC project servants about how God has been changing my attitude to be one of gratitude towards His work. For example, how no matter tiring or daunting the preparation might be for the different workshops, I thank God for helping me love His people and to work hard so that we might be as clear as we can be about the programs so that if people were to scrutinize our process in preparation, we might present ourselves as blameless and above reproach before God. However, i'll also share with them the difficulties i faced but how after learning from the passage of Hebrews, that it is all part of God's calling, the way he moulds me through circumstances. For example, like submitting to my leader even though i'm sometimes tired or lazy because God helps me to see it as opportunities for growing in patience, in love and perseverance.